The Sturm-to-LA trade is finally official. Anze Kopitar must be jumping for joy (sarcasm).

Sturm is not an upgrade over anything on LA’s roster – another overpaid veteran winger. The cost is low (future considerations), so I guess Dean Lombardi views the move as a low-risk, high-reward one.

If you are drafting goalies in a keeper league today, where do you take Jimmy Howard? He has quietly stepped into the "elite" conversation (from a fantasy perspective, at least).

I was never a huge Howard fan – I thought the Wings had left him to rot in the AHL, but I have been proven wrong in a big way. He is a great fit for that team – mentally tough, able to keep focused without facing a lot of shots.

He is also able to keep Detroit in games, as his 18 saves in the third period last night attest to.

The surprising Milan Hejduk left the game with a groin injury last night. No word on severity yet.

Jeremy Morin will be back with Chicago for the game tonight. The beauty of the salary cap – expect him to get the Couture/McGinn treatment from last season (a lot of call-ups/demotions to avoid paying his NHL salary).

Stafford and Connolly are both out for the Sabres tonight.

Boston's current third line is Seguin-Savard-Ryder. That's quality depth right there.

Lubo Visnovsky is on pace for 10 goals and 59 points – right were I expect him to end up.

Tom Gilbert has eight points in his past 10 games. The buy low window is closing very, very fast. I snatched him off the wire in two of my leagues last week. Gilbert is too good (offensively, at least) to not produce with the situation he is in.

Brent Lemon's Puck Daddy column from Friday is here.

Pittsburgh has recalled Dustin Jeffrey – as Dobber tweeted last night, this is long overdue.

Eric Tangradi had a hat trick on Wednesday night for the Baby Pens. This slipped by my radar yesterday.

Mike Komisarek is out for a week with a finger injury. The highlight of his season has been a turnover to Mike Cammalleri, so I doubt the Leafs will miss him.

In all seriousness, Komisarek hasn't been a great fit in Toronto. They have depth on defense, but so many like-minded players (to a degree, Komisarek, Phaneuf, Beauchemin, and Schenn all play the same game).

Vancouver Giant defenseman David Musil may miss the upcoming World Juniors because of an injury. He is slated to go in the top 10/15 in the 2011 Entry Draft.

Musil's offensive upside is a bit of a question mark – he is more of a steady, two way defenseman. However, his raw skill set is pretty unique (he is still growing at 6'6" and very mobile).

The Oilers have no choice but to play Sam Gagner on their top line with Horcoff out. A good read on the situation here.

Should you pick up Anders Lindback while Rinne is out? It is probably too late in most leagues, but this column speaks highly of Lindback for a time period well beyond the next few months.

Cody Hodgson will be out for the next while with a broken cheek bone. He suffered the injury during a practice this past week.

Christian Ehrhoff is out tonight with a possible concussion – he caught a puck last game. Andrew Alberts draws in. Ehrhoff may be out for a week or so, it is tough to say with concussions.

Time for Keith Ballard to step into a bigger role – he's played well when given the opportunity. I'd look at picking Ballard up now – he may side in on the top PP unit alongside Edler.

Mason Raymond is out with a hand injury (broken thumb), and I suspect it is the same one he has been dealing with for the past month or so. Samuelsson (who was out with a concussion) takes his spot on the second line with Kesler and Tambellini.

Nikita Filatov has been sent to the AHL by Columbus. Not a surprise – he is far from NHL ready.

Ottawa has loaned Robin Lehner to Sweden for the World Juniors. I'll try to have my first preview column  out on Sunday.

Linus Omark, ladies and gentlemen: